Notes

Black Magic

Nitric acid was known in alchemical days as aqua fortis….

[Nitric acid was known in alchemical days as aqua fortis. It could dissolve almost anything but gold, which in the last quote is referred to as “Sun” or (elsewhere) “Sol,” reflecting its astrological counterpart. First are some Wikipedia entries on aqua fortis:] “In alchemy, aqua fortis (Latin for “strong water”) is nitric acid (HNO3). Being …

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Does Faust speak of divine magic?

[On the types of magic, and their purpose in the esoteric (vaguely superstition”, “magic”, and “the occult”) Christian search for truth.] “In the later Middle Ages, forms of Western esotericism such as alchemy and astrology were constructed on Christian foundations, combining Christian theology and doctrines with esoteric concepts. Giovanni Pico della Mirandola’s Apologia (“Apologia J. …

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Witchcraft accusations-Johann Fust

[Witchcraft accusations. Johann Fust (c. 1400 – October 30, 1466) was a business partner of Gutenberg, who invented movable type printing, which enabled mass production of books instead of hand-written manuscripts. Fust is sometimes confused with Faust, and has even been nominated as possibly the original Faust by some. Fust took some of Gutenberg’s newly …

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Cyprianus

Cyprianus is also known as the Black Book, and is the textbook of the Black School at Wittenburg, the book from which a witch or sorcerer gets his spells. The Black School at Wittenburg was purportedly a place in Germany where one went to learn the black arts. Cyprianus, M. L. , Clavis Inferni sive …

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John Lambe

Evidence that a reputation for black magic (and rape) could get you killed. John Lambe was an alleged English sorcerer who was murdered by a mob.From Wikipedia: “John Lambe (or Lamb) (c. 1545 – 13 June 1628) was an English astrologer who served George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, during the early 17th century. Accused …

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Germany: Magic became associated with the Devil….

Germany: Magic became associated with the Devil. Catholics had “magical” rites. Sensibly, magic being diabolical (according to the Church, it shouldn’t be part of the church, but prayer, blessings, sainthood, and other trappings of the (Catholic) Church were very much magical. Protestants protested (literally) that that wasn’t right.]The Magician in Medieval German Literature By Jon …

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Faustus originally intends for his magic to do good

From a student paper on Marlowe’s Dr. Faustus: “Faustus originally intends for his magic to do good: to increase his intellect and his power so he may help others and possibly ease his finding a mate so he may start a family. Thus, he aspires to be a “white” magician or magus, a rare wise …

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The distinction between white magic and black magic

From a student paper on Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus: “The distinction between white magic and black magic was very unstable during the Renaissance. Christian doctrine accepted both versions of magic but scholars argued as to the differences between the two. White magic was seen as a natural science when used for legitimate ends. Also called “natural …

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The most dangerous form of black magic is the scientific

While only in his late twenties, Manly Palmer Hall published his The Secret Teachings of All Ages – An Encyclopedia Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic and Rosicrucian Symbolic Philosophy in 1928. It was a remarkable effort for such a young man, and The Secret Teachings of All Ages remains a remarkable book. “The most dangerous …

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Secret Teachings of All Ages, by Manly P….

Secret Teachings of All Ages, by Manly P. Hall on pacts with the Devil: “In the case of black magic, it is the magician and not the demon who must sign the pact. When the black magician binds an elemental to his service, a battle of wits ensues, which the demon eventually wins. With his …

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